Nikki Haley Statement Spells Trouble For US Participation in The Winter Olympics

It is not certain that the United States will be participating in the upcoming Winter Olympics.

Citing potential threats emanating from the region, U.N. Ambassador Nikki Haley told Fox News on Wednesday that it is an “open question” whether American athletes would be allowed to attend the 2018 Winter Olympics in South Korea.

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In response to Fox News host Martha MacCallum’s question asking if the region was safe for American athletes, Haley did not give a definitive yes or no.

“I think those are conversations we are going to have to have, but what have we always said? We don’t ever fear anything, we live our lives,” the U.N. Ambassador replied.

Despite South Korea’s own preparations for the monumental event, tensions with North Korea and that regime’s developing nuclear missile program have kept the international community on high alert.

In late November, North Korea broke a 10-week lull in activity when it launched its latest and most powerful missile to date, re-igniting fears that leader Kim Jong Un may attempt to stoke unrest during the international games, according to The Washington Post.

Immediately following the missile launch, South Korean President Moon Jae-in convened a national security meeting to review whether the action would hurt his nation’s ability to successfully host the Winter Olympics.

Many world leaders are convinced that Kim would not actually strike the region and believe their athletes will be safe.

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Haley’s latest comments, however, put into question whether the United States will take part in the event.

Her remarks came after the International Olympic Committee announced Tuesday that the Russia will be banned from participating. Punishment by the committee was the result of the discovery that numerous Russian athletes in the 2014 Olympic Games used steroids.